Game apparatus



May 25 1926. 1,586,315

8. W. LUCKENBILL GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 19 1926 Y s Sheets-Sheet 1 May 25 1926.'

' .B. w. LUCKENBILL GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 25' 1926. 1,586,315 7 E. w. LUCKENBILL GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 9,, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 25 1926.

BERT w. LUCKENBILL, or ALLOWAY, new JERSEY.

GAME APPARATUS. V

Application filed January 7 This invention relates to apparatus for playing games analogous to base ball.

The objects are to provide a game board upon which a ball may be mechanically projected by a player occupying a position analogous to that of the pitcher and may be mechanically projected into an area analogous to a base ball field by a player occupying a position analogous to that of a batter;

to provide means by which the ball'may be deflected, after it is pitched, to render it' .difiicult for the batter to so manipulate the batting mechanism as to hit the ball, and provide I sub-divisions or' otherwise arrange the field tolprovide for scores analogous to base ball'scores.

These objects, and other advantageous ends' which will be described hereinafter, l attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in i which natural path.

Figure 1 is a View of game apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 an inverted plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure showing the operating mechanism,

Figure 3 a section on line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 an enlarged fragmentary View of Figure 3, I

Figure 5 a section on line 5-5 of Figure 1, Figure 6 afragmentary perspective view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 illus- ,trating it in position for projecting a ball, and

ing been projected and deflected from its Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a board and 2 awall secured thereto at its edges. The board has a base ball field marked thereon which is divided into areas 3, 4,5, 6, 7 and 8. A ball batted into area 3 indicates a sacrifice hit, in area 4 a one base hit, in area 5 a two base hit, in area 6 a" three base hit, in area 7 a home run and in area 8 a foul. The area 3 which is the infield, is marked with first, second, thirdand home bases 9. A pitching device 1.0 forprojecting the ball toward a batting device 11, consists of a rod 12 slldably and turnably mounted on the under side of board 1, and a finger 13 on the inner end of the rod, passing through a slot 14 in the board andextending above the board. The

1 slot is preferably chamferediat the upper Figure 7 a like view showing the ball hav- 19, 1926. Serial No. 82,218.

side of the board forreceiving a ballas indicated in dot-and-dash lines at 15 inFigure 5. The outer end of rod 12 passes out through wall 2 and is provided with an eye 16 or equivalent means which serves for conveniently pulling the rod outwardly against the action of a spring 17 connected with the inner end of therod and the under side of the board. Having a ball in the slot and the rod" pulled outwardly, the ball'may be projected out of the slot toward the batting device by suddenly releasing the rod. The ball'may be projected to the right or the left of the home base by having linger 13 at the right orthe left of the ball as it is projected as shown in dot-and-dash lines at 18 in Figure 5. Finger 1?) is swung to the right or the left by simply turning rod 12 slightly to the right or left. The accuracy with which the ball is'projected in the de sired direction depends upon the skill with which the player operates rod 12.

Batting device 11 consists of a socket l9 rotatable in the board, a spring 20 connected with the board and with an arm 21 extending radially fromthe socket, a pull rod 22 connected with arm 21 and passing out through wall 2, and a bat 23 mounted in socket 19 and arranged to swing above the board. By pulling rod 22 outwardly against the action of spring 20 and suddenly re: leasing the rod, bat 23will be swung to strike the ball and send it into the field. The direction in which the ball is sent depends upon the skill of the player in'releasin'g rod 22 at the propermoment so that the bat meets the approaching ball in the correct position for sending it in the desired direction,

To make it difficult for the player operating the batting device to hit the ball, I provide deflectors 24 for deflecting the projected ball to the right orthe left. The deflectors are preferably in the form of plates pivoted to the under side of the board at 25 and extending through slots .26 in the boardso that their upper edges 24 are normally flush with the board. The plates are disposed at an angle to each other preferably as shown in Figure 1 and each plate may be swung vertically by a crank 27 mounted on the under side of the board and connected with the plates by a pin and slot connection 28. The crank may be bent from wire and rocked by a lever 29, which may be bent from the same wire as the crank, suitably connected wall 2. Pulling either of the rods out ward'ly swings its deflector plate 24: upwardly, as shown in the dot-anddash line position in Figure i, and upon releasing the rod ward batting device 11 at different angles thereto by merely swinging the finger toward the right or the left and keeping it in position when releasing rod 12'. After the ball is projected, it may be deflected to the right or the left to render it ditlicult for the player operating the batting device to hit the ball. This may be done by pulling either of the rods 30 to raise one of the deflecting plates 24 in front of the approaching ball so that it will strike the plate and travel directed by the plate as shown in Figure 7. Should the player operate the batting device \vith sufiicient skill to cause the bat to meet the ball and send it into the field, the play gained will be indicated by the area in which the ball comes to rest. If the ball comes to rest in area 4, the batter will score a one base hit, in area 5 a two base hit, in area 6 a three base hit, and in area '7 a home run. If the ball comes to rest in the area 8, the batter scores a sacrifice hit, and in the area 8 the hit is a foul. Other plays may be made by providing pockets 33' in the different areas of the field into which the ball may roll. The different pockets may be marked in any manner to indicate various plays. For example, pocket 3st may be marked to indicate an out caused by the third baseman throwing a ball to first base, pocket 35 may indicate an out to left field and a double play at third, and soon with other pockets. The pockets in the foul area 8 may indicate anout on a foul fly. The tally of the strikes and balls of the batter may be kept by placing pegs in the holes 36 and 37, and the tally of the outs may be likewise kept with holes 38'.

Considerable skill may be developed in operating the pitching device and the batting device. The games played hold the interest of spectators as well as the players and afford good exercise for keen observation. The rules for playing, the games may be varied to suit the players, without departing from the principle of the game.

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be under-' stood that the various parts may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

me-ans, operative at the will of the player,

for deflecting the path of the ball after it is projected, and means, operative at the will of another player, for striking the ball and sending it into the field.

2. In a game apparatus, a board having a field with a home base marked thereon; means on the board for projecting a ball toward the home base; a ball deflector mounted for movement above the board to deflect the projected ball; means connected with the deflector whereby it may be operated at the will of a player, and means onthe board operative at the will of another player for striking the ball and sending it into thefield.

3. In a game apparatus, a board having a field with a home base marked thereon; means on the board for projecting a ball toward the home base; a; ball deflector pivoted for movement above the board to deflect the projected ball; means connected with the deflector whereby it may be operated at the will of a player, and means on the board operative at the will of another player for striking the ball and sending it into the field.

t. In a game apparatus, a board having a tieldwith a home base marked thereon and provided with slots; means on the board for projecting a ball toward the home base; ball deflecting plates pivoted to the board and movable in the slots; cranks on the board connected with the plates for moving them into and out of operative position; means connected with the cranks whereby the plates may be operated at the will of a player, and means on the board operative at the will of another player for striking the ball and sending it into the field.

5. In a game apparatus, a board having a field with a home base marked thereon and provided with slots; means onthe board for projecting a ball toward the home base; ball deflecting plates pivoted to the board and movable in the slots; cranks on the board connected with the plates for moving thenr into and. out of operative position; resilient means for returning the plates to their normal position; means connected with the cranks whereby the plates may be operated at the will of a player, and means on the board operative at the will of another play h er for striking the balland sending it into the field.

6. In a game apparatus, a boardhaving a field with a home base marked thereon and provided with slots; means on the board for projecting a ball toward the home base; ball ill) deflecting plates pivoted to the board and movable in the slots; cranks on the board connected with the plates for moving them into and out of operative position; means connected with the cranks whereby the plates may be operated at the will of a player; a socket rotatable in the board; re silient means for turning the socket in one direction; a pull rod operative at the will of another player for turning the socket in the opposite direction, and a bat mounted in the socket for striking the ball and sending it into the field In testimony whereof I havesigned my I name to this specification. I

BERT W. LUOKENBILL. 

